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Yesterday, during an awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida College System Chancellor Kathy Hebda honored the 158 Florida College System students who were named to the All-Florida Academic Team. [Read more…] about Fifteen Florida College System Students Earn National Scholarships
Florida College System (FCS) Chancellor Madeline Pumariega today recognized four colleges for innovation and excellence through the Chancellor’s Best Practice Awards. The four colleges were honored for programs of excellence at the Association of Florida Colleges’ 69th Annual Meeting and Conference in Orlando. [Read more…] about Florida College System Chancellor Recognizes Innovation and Excellence
At today’s State Board of Education meeting, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart presented Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega with a check for $1,032,177 to benefit first-generation students and students pursuing careers in health care. [Read more…] about Florida College System Foundation Awards Florida’s 28 Colleges over $1 Million in Scholarships
During an awards ceremony today in Tampa, Florida, College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega honored the 134 students who were named to the Florida College System All-Florida Academic Team. Twelve of these students also earned national scholarships ranging in value from $1,000 to $5,000 for demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence, intellectual rigor and community service.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said, “The Florida College System is recognized as a national model for its outstanding institutions, so it is no surprise that 134 of our colleges’ students were selected as recipients of these distinguished scholarships and awards. I am pleased to congratulate these students and thank Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Coca-Cola for investing in our students’ continued education.”
Chancellor Madeline Pumariega said, “As Chancellor of the Florida College System, it is my privilege to commend these students on the dedication they have shown to their studies and for the contributions they have made to their communities. These are just a few examples of the many truly remarkable students in the Florida College System.”
Below are two Florida college students who are being recognized with national scholarships.
All-USA Community College Academic Team: Luis Flores Mesias, Hillsborough Community College
Luis Flores Mesias has the unique distinction of being selected as both a member of the 2018 All-USA Academic Team and the 2018 Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar for Florida, a result of having the highest All-USA Academic Team application score in the State of Florida. As a member of the All-USA Academic Team he is one of only 20 others in the United States. He is one of only 100 students recognized across the United States as a Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar.
A native of Guatemala, Luis has excelled since arriving at Hillsborough Community College, serving as an honors ambassador, member of Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Luis has had the honor of serving as the first student trustee in the history of Hillsborough Community College. The District Board of Trustees, administration and staff have been greatly impressed by his informed advocacy for his fellow students during the academic year. After completing his course work at Hillsborough Community College, Luis hopes to continue his studies in Electrical Engineering at a university. Luis Mesias earned a $5,000 scholarship as a member of the All-USA Community College Academic team and $2,000 as Florida’s Coca-Cola New Century Scholar
Coca-Cola New Century Workforce Scholar Team: Shanta Bacchus, Valencia College
The New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship recognizes the achievements of workforce-ready students and provides scholarships to complete their associate degrees, obtain the necessary certifications and purchase the tools or other trade-specific items needed to enter the workforce. Fifty students from across the nation will be recognized. Shanta Bacchus is currently pursuing an Associate in Science in Office Administration from Valencia College and will receive a $1,250 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa.
Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team
The Coca-Cola Community Academic Team is selected annually by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation to recognize outstanding leadership, service to the community and academic excellence. Gold scholars are awarded with a $1,500 scholarship, silver scholars receive a $1,250 scholarship and bronze scholars receive a $1,000 scholarship.
To view the All-Florida Academic Team members, visit All-Florida.
For more information about the Florida College System, visit floridacollegesystem.org.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit fldoe.org.
At the Association of Florida Colleges’ 68th Annual Meeting and Conference today, Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega recognized four colleges with the Chancellor’s Best Practice Award for pioneering inventive practices or enhancing existing programs.
“The Chancellor’s Best Practice Awards is an opportunity for our colleges to showcase innovative program strategies that have proven successful at their colleges and in their communities,” said Chancellor Pumariega. “The Best Practice Awards recognize colleges for creating successful programs and then shares the best practices with all institutions in the Florida College System.”
Chancellor Pumariega recognized the following four colleges with the Chancellor’s Best Practice Award:
Valencia College: Got College? Increasing the College-Going Rate in Osceola County as an innovative initiative designed to help students overcome the barriers that historically prevented students from pursuing postsecondary education.
“I am so proud of our community’s ‘Got College?’ efforts to increase educational attainment levels in Osceola County,” said Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia’s Osceola, Poinciana and Lake Nona campuses. “Since 2010, Osceola County’s college-going rate has increased by more than 20%, demonstrating the success of our collective efforts to reduce the barriers that historically have prevented many students from going to college.”
Eastern Florida State College was recognized for creating exciting careers in aviation by developing and sustaining a competitive aviation and aerospace workforce curriculum.Eastern Florida President Dr. Jim Richey said the program reflects the college’s commitment to working closely with industry and business partners on a central goal of providing students with new educational opportunities that can lead to good jobs after graduation, with companies reaping the benefits of gaining skilled employees.
“The aviation program stands out for what can happen when vision is combined with workforce needs to give people great careers and help our local economy,” said Eastern Florida President Dr. Jim Richey. “That’s even more exciting when you consider the program is ramping up to instruct more students to meet the demand at area aviation companies.”
Santa Fe College continues to keep college affordable by creating a unique approach to reducing student loan debt through a financial aid campaign that ensures students’ progress in their academic programs without gaps in financial support.
“So much of what Santa Fe College aspires to be is practiced in the Florida College System,” said Santa Fe College President Jackson Sasser. “We thank you and share this honor with you.”
Tallahassee Community College is committed to students having streamlined access to college with its AskStudent Central: Enrollment Call Center 2.0, which improves the college enrollment process through increased communication efforts.
“Tallahassee Community College is proud to be selected for a Chancellor’s Best Practice Award,” said Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh. “The call center is a tremendous asset for our college and creates real benefits for students and families. The call center staff not only help students navigate the enrollment process, but also become a familiar and reliable source of information and assistance throughout students’ time here.”
“I applaud our colleges for their commitment to excellence and innovation in our system,” continued Chancellor Pumariega. “It is this commitment that keeps the Florida College System in the forefront as a national leader in higher education.”
For more information visit Chancellor’s Best Practice Awards.
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
The State Board of Education today approved four Florida College System institutions to begin offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees by 2018.
To produce a future talent pipeline in Central Florida, a consortium of colleges, with the support of the University of Central Florida, requested approval for Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs:
Through these programs, nurses with Associate in Science degrees currently in the local workforce can remain on the job while pursuing advanced skills in the healthcare field.
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart said, “I am very excited about the State Board of Education’s approval to allow these four colleges to begin offering the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Florida colleges are known throughout the nation for their educational excellence, and this is a tremendous opportunity for students in Florida to meet their higher education goals while attending a Florida College.”
Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor of the Florida College System, said, “Our colleges produce more than 4,500 registered nurses each year that stay right here in Florida to work. Many of our graduates take advantage of our RN-BSN programs that help nurses advance their education while they work as RN’s in our local hospitals.”
Dr. James Richey, president of Eastern Florida State College, said, “The college’s Associate in Science degree in nursing is highly popular and this will allow qualified graduates to seamlessly transition in the bachelor’s program, providing them an important educational and career opportunity that did not previously exist. The program will play a critical role in providing a new generation of nurses to hospitals and other health care providers along the Space Coast, where demand for them is rapidly growing because of an aging population and many nurses who are retiring.”
Dr. Stanley Sidor, president of Lake-Sumter State College, said, “In The Villages, healthcare providers are continuing to expand to meet the needs of the retiree population. At the southern end of our district, growth in young professionals and families are placing additional demands for healthcare. There is already significant unmet demand for nursing positions in our communities, and these jobs are expected to grow by 25 percent through 2022. Coupled with the need for nurses and the BSN becoming the preferred credential, the BSN program at Lake-Sumter State College and our peer colleges in Central Florida allow for increased access to this degree. Lake-Sumter State College is dedicated to our community and has a history of adapting to meet and support the workforce education demands of our communities.
Dr. E. Ann McGee, president of Seminole State College of Florida, said, “Our nursing graduates consistently score almost 100 percent on their national licensure exams and on graduation have a job placement rate of more than 98 percent. Seminole State has been working closely with the University of Central Florida, and our sister colleges to address the shortage of registered nurses, particularly those with bachelor’s degrees, and provide our graduates with high-growth, high-paying jobs. Seminole State’s Bachelor’s in Nursing will complement our Associate in Nursing degree and enable us to help provide the estimated 1,000 new nurses needed each year in Central Florida over the next decade. Our role in the local community is to help our industries meet their hiring goals.”
Dr. Sandy Shugart, president of Valencia College, said, “Valencia College is already expanding its Associate in Science in Nursing from 350 to more than 700 graduates over the next few years. This represents both a huge cost to our healthcare system – perhaps more than $40 million per year in overtime costs alone – and a huge opportunity to prepare many more of our students for rewarding careers. Together we have pledged to more than double our collective production of nursing graduates at both the associates and bachelor’s levels.”
Jayne Willis, Chief Nursing Officer for Orlando Health, said “One size does not fit all. Students need options if they are interested in becoming a nurse. Some students cannot leave home to attend a four year university. They need the option to attend close to home in their communities and continue working.”
Sheryl Dodds, Senior Executive Officer and Chief People Officer of Florida Hospital, said, “To fill open nursing positions at Florida Hospital, we must recruit nationally, but the shortage is critical everywhere which means we can’t meet the growing demands of our area, so it is important that we work with our local colleges and universities to produce more Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing graduates to meet current and future needs.”
For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.
Madeline M. Pumariega, the chancellor of the Florida College System (FCS), will address a class of more than 3,200 graduates during Daytona State College’s 57th commencement ceremonies on Monday, May 15, at the Ocean Center.
This year’s commencement will take place in two parts, with ceremonies for associate of science (AS), certificate and adult education students at 2 p.m. and for associate of arts (AA) and baccalaureate degree students scheduled at 6:30 p.m. The event will include a job fair for DSC graduates, set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Pumariega presides over the 28 colleges that make up the FCS, which serves nearly 1 million students annually and is rated among the nation’s best. Appointed as the first female and Hispanic chancellor in August 2015, she is herself a product of the FCS, having earned her AA degree from Miami Dade College.
She is the past president of Miami Dade’s Wolfson Campus, where she earned acclaim for nurturing community partnerships and for her work in developing innovative approaches to ensure that thousands can access and complete college.
Pumariega is a member of the Florida Prepaid College Board, Higher Education Coordinating Council, Florida Council of 100, the Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University, City Year Miami and an advisory board member of the Florida College Access Network. She was a Kellogg Fellow for the League for Innovation’s Expanding Leadership Diversity in Community and a graduate of Leadership Florida Class 33. Chancellor Pumariega holds a bachelor’s in political science from St. Thomas University, a master of education from Florida Atlantic University and is a doctoral candidate at Barry University.
The Class of 2017 features over 1,400 AA graduates, including 177 expected to complete their AAs this summer. Many will continue their studies in a DSC baccalaureate degree program or smoothly transition as juniors to the University of Central Florida through DSC’s Direct Connect to UCF partnership, or other universities.
Nearly 1,400 students will have earned their AS or certificate credentials, including candidates for summer 2017 graduation.
DSC’s commencement exercises include 455 bachelor’s degree recipients, including those expected to complete their degree this summer. Among them are 282 graduates of Daytona State’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management degree, which the college began offering over a decade ago, and 74 graduates of the college’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which DSC launched in 2014.
This year, 1,370 students across programs are graduating with honors, including 429 with high honors, and 64 have been inducted into the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa, based on their leadership skills, scholarship and community service. An additional 24 graduates were inducted this year into Sigma Beta Delta, the highest international recognition a business student can receive at a college or university. Sixty-three Associate Degree Nursing graduates this year were inducted into the Alpha Delta Nu national honor society, and eight students were inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi international honor society for education graduates.
Forty-seven Falcons this spring were named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, and 15 students were inducted into the Daytona State College Hall of Fame, the highest honor that faculty can bestow upon a student.
More than 200 veterans earned their academic credentials this year, including those who completed their programs at the end of fall semester.
Over 150 graduates are earning their AA, AS or program certificate days before they receive their high school diploma, through Daytona State’s popular dual enrollment program, which provides opportunity for high school students to earn college credits free of charge and get a head start on their college education.
And over 462 students will have earned their adult high school diploma or GED as part of the Class of 2017.
This commencement marks over 100,000 degrees and certificates awarded by the college since its founding in 1957 as Florida’s first comprehensive community college.
